Hippotherapy in multiple Sclerosis: A review focusing on motor function

Hippotherapy is used in physiotherapy as a treatment that takes advantage of the unique characteristics of the horses' walk impulses and triggers movement responses in patients sitting on the horse's back. The research evidence for application of hippotherapy at people with neurological deficits and disabilities is sparse. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and inflammatory disease that affects the neurons of the Central Nervous System. The aim of this review article was to presents the effect of hippotherapy at people with MS. PubMed, Science Direct, Pedro, Total and National Institute Hi.K.E.R., and Google Scholar were searched from 2005 to 2021. Out of 271 studies, 14 were included. The results showed that hippotherapy has a positive impact on the motor function, the walking cycle, the endurance, the balance, and the orthostatic control of people with MS. Further research must be done in a greater scale and investigate the way hippotherapy affects the quality of life, the self-confidence and the social inclusion of people with MS. In summary, the application of hippotherapy in people with MS contributes positively to the progression of the disease and enhances the functionality of individuals.